MCUs provide 64/8 to 512/64KB Flash/RAM scalability

18th November 2014

Siobhan O'Gorman

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A series of high pin-count 32-bit MCUs, combining key features of the PICM32MX1/2 and PIC32MX5 families, has been released by Microchip Technology. The PIC32MX1/2/5 series offers designers the benefits of a rich peripheral set for a wide range of cost-sensitive applications requiring complex code and higher feature integration at a lower cost.

With up to 83 DMIPS performance and large, scalable memory options from 64/8 to 512/64KB Flash/RAM, the MCUs are suitable for executing the Bluetooth audio software required for low-cost Bluetooth audio applications, such as speakers, consumer music-player docks, noise-cancelling headsets and clock radios. Flexible, easy-to-use CAN2.0B controllers are also integrated into the MCUs, with DeviceNet addressing support and programmable bit rates up to 1Mb/s, along with system RAM for storing up to 1,024 messages in 32 buffers. This allows designers to easily employ CAN communication schemes for industrial and automotive applications.

The series boasts a wide variety of additional features, including four SPI/I2S interfaces for audio processing and playback; a parallel master port and capacitive touch-sensing hardware for graphics and touch-sensing interfaces; a 10-bit, 1MS/s, 48-channel ADC; and a full-speed USB 2.0 Device/Host/OTG peripheral. To maximise data throughput, each MCU includes four general-purpose Direct Memory Access (DMA) controllers and two dedicated DMAs on each CAN and USB module.

In addition to a rich mix of integrated hardware peripheral features, the MCUs are supported by the company’s MPLAB Harmony software development framework, which simplifies the software development process by integrating the licence, resale and support of Microchip and third-party middleware, drivers, libraries and RTOSs. The company’s readily available software packages, such as Bluetooth audio development suites, Bluetooth SPP library, audio equaliser filter libraries, decoders (including AAC, MP3, WMA and SBC), sample-rate conversion libraries, CAN2.0B PLIBs, USB stacks and graphics libraries can rapidly reduce the development time of Bluetooth connectivity, digital audio, consumer, industrial, medical and general-purpose embedded control applications.

The PIC32MX1/2/5 series is also supported by Microchip’s free MPLAB X IDE; the MPLAB XC32 compiler for PIC32; the MPLAB ICD3 in-circuit debugger; and the MPLAB REAL ICE in-circuit emulation system. Development tools created to support this series include the PIC32MX1/2/5 Starter Kit (DM320100) priced at $69.99; the PIC32MX570F512L Plug-in-Module for Explorer 16 Development Board (MA320015) priced at $25; and the PIC32MX270F512L Plug-in-Module for Bluetooth Audio Development Kit (MA320017) priced at $25.

The PIC32MX1/2/5 MCUs with the 40MHz/66 DMIPS speed option are available in 64-pin TQFP and QFN packages, as well as 100-pin TQFP. The 50MHz/83 DMIPS speed option for this PIC32MX1/2/5 series is expected to be available by late January 2015.